Work

Development of a test protocol to study the biomechanical properties of iliac veins in comparison to the common iliac artery

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Despite development of open and endovascular treatments of the iliac veins, there is no reported research on the biomechanical properties of human iliac veins. The development of devices for venous interventions are primarily empirical adaptations of arterial treatments. Although numerous research has gone into developing devices, the receiving organ has not yet been studied in detail.Using these new methods and testing protocols we aim to investigate and determine the biomechanical properties of the common and external iliac veins in comparison to the common iliac artery, with the future goal of formulating a new mathematical model for the pelvic veins to facilitate in silico modelling.The standard extension-inflation test protocol was adapted with a novel approach of isotonic testing to accommodate the distinctly different compliance of venous and arterial tissue. This was verified empirically and theoretically using our own laboratory data as well as published data from other institutions.Planar biaxial extension testing will be used to generate comparative data to extension-inflation testing data and histological and structural microscopic findings.Structural analysis will result in the first reliable, detailed data on the large pelvic veins of its kind. With a direct comparison of arterial and venous tissue composition.

Source: MethodsX

DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2026.103815

Authors: Gregor Siegl, Katharina Rampitsch, Selda Sherifova, Gerhard A. Holzapfel, Gerhard Sommer, Tina Cohnert